Method of making fountain pen

ABSTRACT

A method of making a writing pen with capillary passages, which includes the steps of: providing a metal sheet at those areas thereof which are intended to contain capillary passages with grooves open at the top, filling the thus made grooves with a filling material adapted to be evaporated, covering up the thus filled grooves with another material the melting temperature of which is higher than the evaporation temperature of said filling material, removing the filling material by evaporation at a temperature lower than the melting point of said metal sheet and of said covering-up material, and finish-shaping and slotting the pin. Thus liquid ink is conveyed from an ink container through a capillary section to a gap leading to the writing tip of the pen while the foil forming the writing pen is covered and capillary passages lead into the pen gap, which passages have their opposite ends communicating with the ink container.

T,- a United States Patent [191 [111 3,731,366 Herrm'ing 1 May 8, 1973[54] METHOD OF MAKING FOUNTAIN PEN Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham[75] Inventor gs g i ggmfg ggz Ham Assistant Examiner-V. A. Dipalma g yAtt0rneyWalter Becker [73] Assignee: Montblanc-Simplo G.m.b.H., Hamburg,Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Mar. 15,1971 A method of making awriting pen with capillary Appl. No.: 123,954

Related US. Application Data passages, which includes the steps of:providing a metal sheet at those areas thereof which are intended tocontain capillary passages with grooves open at the top, filling thethus made grooves with a filling material adapted to be evaporated,covering up the thus filled grooves with another material the meltingtcm perature of which is higher than the evaporation temperature of saidfilling material, removing the filling material by evaporation at atemperature lower than the melting point of said metal sheet and of saidcovering-up material, and finish-shaping and slotting the pin. Thusliquid ink is conveyed from an ink container through a capillary sectionto a gap leading to the writing tip of the pen while the foil formingthe writing pen is covered and capillary passages lead into the pen gap,which passages have their opposite ends communicating with the inkcontainer.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures VPATENTEUMAY 81915 7 7 my m W a METHOD OFMAKING FOUNTAIN PEN This is a division of application Ser. No. 839,228filed July 7, 1969, which application was abandoned in favor ofcontinuation application Ser. No. 124,990, now-US. Pat. No. 3,659,954.

The present invention concerns a fountain pen in which liquid ink isfrom an ink container conveyed through a capillary path to a gap leadingto the tip of the pen.

Heretofore known fountain pens for liquid ink are, if they are used as awriting implement with a pen, provided with a specific capillary systemwhich generally is designed as ink conductor or feeder. Such inkconductor is intended to feed the ink from the ink chamber in a meteredquantity to the pen gap and to control the supply of air to the inkchamber. With heretofore known fountain pens of this type it isadvantageous that withelastic pens the ink transfer from the feeder tothe pen can easily be interrupted so that the fountain pen might, undercertain circumstances, start writing only with difficulty or mayinterrupt writing (skip). Another disadvantage consists in that themanufacturing costs for the feeder are relatively high.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide afountain pen for liquid ink which will work without a conventionalfeeder and nevertheless will have all the advantages normally inherentto a pen as writing instrument (the handwriting showing more character).

It is another object of this invention to provide an advantageous methodof producing pens with covered capillaries for a fountain pen accordingto the invention.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pen according to the invention for usein connection with a fountain pen.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a band-shaped starting material for producing apen according to FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3a-3e respectively illustrate cross-sections along the linesllI-Ill of FIG. 2 for explaining five successive working steps effectedwhen producing the pen according to the invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 present illustrations similar to that of FIG. 2 of astarting material for a pen with capillary passages of differentconfiguration.

FIG. 6 illustrates in cross section an ink storing material between anink container and capillary passages.

The fountain pen according to the present invention is characterizedprimarily in that the leaf of the writing pen comprises capillarypassages which are covered and lead into the pen gap said capillarypassages having their opposite ends in communication with the inkcontainer 12 or reservoir. If desired, between the ink container and therear ends of the capillary passages there may be provided a porous inkstoring mass or material 13 or said mass may itself form the inkcontainer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a writing pen forthe fountain pen according to the invention has at least within the areaof the pen gap a plurality of capillary passages extending in the mannerof fish bones. According to a further feature of the invention, themethod of making the writing pen with covered capillary passages for afountain pen according to the invention is characterized in that the penleaf is first provided with open grooves at the areas intended for thecapillary passages whereupon the grooves are filled with a materialwhich can be evaporated and are subsequently covered by anothermaterial. Finally, by means of a heat treatment at a temperature belowthe melting point of the metal used for the pen leaf and below themelting point of the cover material, the evaporated material is removed.In this connection, it is particularly advantageous to fill thecapillary passages. which open in the beginning with cadmium and toemploy as cover material a nickel coating preferably deposited byelectro-plating.

In order not to damage the produced capillaries when finish forming andslotting the pen, it is suggested according to the invention to carryout the finish forming and slotting after the capillary passages havebeen filled and covered and the material in said capillary passages hasnot yet been evaporated.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the pen shown in FIG. 1 for afountain pen according to the invention is tubular even though all othercustomary and heretofore known shapes of pens may be employed. Morespecifically, the pen consists of a pen leaf 1 which ends in a writingtip 2. From the tip 2 the customary pen gap 4 leads to the centralportion of the pen where, if desired, as a kind of limitation there maybe provided a heart-shaped hole 3. The pen described so far may beconsidered conventional.

The novel and inventive feature of the present invention is seen in thefact that the pen gap 4 is no longer fed from a feeder but its inksupply is now arranged within the pen leaf. As will be seen from FIG.l-, a plurality of capillaries 5 arranged in the manner of fish bones orherring bones lead from both sides into the area of the pen gap 4. Thesecapillaries 5 define with the longitudinal axis of the pen an angle ofapproximately from 7 to 15.

The rear ends of the capillaries lead into the cut edges of the pen leafand here may be supplied with ink either directly from the ink containeror reservoir or from an interposed porous ink storing mass or material.

In order further to improve the ink supply system, there also exists thepossibility to form a capillary network within the range of the penbehind the pen gap 4. Such network consists of a longitudinal capillary6 directed to the pen gap 4, while the said capillary 6 may be suppliedin its turn with liquid ink or may receive its ink through furthercapillaries 5' which are arranged in a fish bone-like manner and leadinto the longitudinal capillary 6.

The design of the capillaries 5, 5 in a fish bone-like arrangement mayalso be varied or modified in the manner shown in FlGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4shows capillaries of an undulated contour which may increase thethroughflow resistance of the capillaries if necessary and which mayalso furnish the possibilityto have the capillaries lead into the pengap 4 or the longitudinal capillary 6 at a right angle with regardthereto.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 represents an arrangement of the capillariesin which sections of the capillaries are extending at a right angle withregard to each other. It is to be understood that also the capillaryarrangement of FIG. 5 is to be considered as within the term in themanner of fish bones or herring bones.

The pen assembly illustrated in FIG. 6 shows a cross section of inkstoring material between an ink container and capillary passagesrepresenting assembly of conponents for continuous and uninterruptedsupply of ink or writing fluid while assuring maintenance of flexibilityof the pen itself. The reference numerals used in this view correspondwith those identified with the foregoing description and therefore norepetition is believed necessary for obtaining a full understanding ofthe components involved.

The pens according to the present invention can in spite of their rathercomplicated infra-structure be produced very easily and also in acontinuous working method. Such preferred manufacturing process will bedescribed in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

Depending on the pen material to be employed, the manufacturing processstarts with a metal band 7 hav ing a thickness of approximately 0.15 mm.As metal may, in customary manner, be employed gold, steel, or alsoberyllium bronze. This metal band is first provided with open capillarygrooves which correspond to the desired configuration of thecapillaries. The open capillary grooves may be provided by engraving themetal band, or by rolling or etching the same.

In conformity with present tests, the etching method appears to be thesimplest and the most economical one. For purposes of etching, the metalband 7 is, in conformity with FIG. 3, coated'with a photosensitive coverlacquer 8 which is exposed to light in conformity with the etchingsample and is developed. This method step is shown in FIG. 3a. Insteadof a photosensitive cover lacquer there may, of course, also be providedanother covering method, for instance, printing according to the screenprinting method. When subsequently the metal band 7 prepared inconformity with FIG. 3a is etched, there will form in the metal band 7between the remaining or left parts of the cover 8 capillary grooves 5athe configuration of which corresponds to the desired course of thecapillaries in the pen.

According to the next following method step, these open capillarygrooves 5a are filled with a material which can be evaporated. Suchmaterial is, for instance, cadmium which can be deposited in anelectroplating bath (FIG. 30).

According to the next method step illustrated in FIG. 3d, a covermaterial is deposited upon the top side of the metal band 7 after theremaining lacquer portions 8 have been removed. This cover material maycontain, for instance, nickel which is likewise deposited in anelectro-plating or chemical bath. Important in this connection for theselection of the material adapted to be evaporated and for the covermaterial is the fact that the evaporating temperature of the material tobe evaporated must not exceed the temperature at which the pen leafmetal or the cover material begin to melt.

From the metal band 7 provided with a nickel cover or coating 9according to FIG. 3d in which the capillaries are now filled by thematerial 10 adapted to be evaporated, there are now produced the penblanks, i. e. there are now, for instance in conformity with the cuttinglines II of FIG. 2, stamped out individual sections which areimmediately provided with the required pen gap 4 and are brought intothe desired shape. Due to the fact that the capillary passages in themetal band are still completely filled, the cutting, slotting anddeforming of the pen blank will not bring about a deformation of thecapillaries to be produced later.

After the pen blank has been formed so as to have the shape justmentioned, it is subjected to a heat treatment while the temperature isso selected that the material 10 will now evaporate while the groovecoating or cover 9 and the pen leaf material will not yet melt. Thisheat treatment is preferably carried out in a vacuum or at least in aprotective gas atmosphere in order to prevent oxidation. With this heattreatment it is possible in a manner known per se to regain the cadmiumby providing cooling plates. After the evaporation step, the pencross-section corresponds substantially to the shape illustrated in FIG.3e.

FIGS. 3a-3e illustrate the cross-sections of the metal band 7 at agreatly enlarged scale. Furthermore, these illustrations are notdecisive for the actual shape of the capillaries which, depending on thedesired conditions,

may be deeper or wider or may, for instance, by means of etching beprovided with a dove-tail-shaped crosssection. The cross-sectionaldimensioning of the capillaries will be effected in conformity with thelength of the capillaries, the potential of the capillaries, theselected viscosity of the respective ink and the wear of the providedpen tip.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawings butalso comprises any modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A method of making a writing pen with capillary passages for afountain pen, which includes the steps of: providing a foil-like metalsheet to be shaped into a pen and forming grooves therein at those areasthereof which are intended to contain capillary passages with groovesopen at the top, filling the thus made grooves with a filling materialadapted to be evaporated, covering up at least the thus filled grooveswith another material the melting temperature of which is higher thanthe evaporation temperature of said filling material, and removing thefilling material by evaporation at a temperature lower than the meltingpoint of said foillike metal sheet and of said covering-up material.

2. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of usingcadmium as filling material adapted to be evaporated.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which said covering-up material isselected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel boron and nickelphosphorous.

4. A method according to claim I, which includes the steps offinish-shaping and slotting the pen after filling and covering up thegrooves intended to form the capillary passages.

5. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of producingthe grooves by engraving.

6. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of producingthe grooves by embossing.

7. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of producingthe grooves by etching.

8. A method according to claim 7, which includes the step of prior toetching the pen foil covering the'latter with a cover having recesses inconformity with the desired etching pattern.

conformity with the desired etching pattern, and 5 developing saidphotosensitive layer.

10. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of using asfoil a metallic band, providing one side of said band with said groovesin a continuous process, and cutting up said band in conformity with theintended size and shape of the writing pens to be produced.

1. A method of making a writing pen with capillary passages for afountain pen, which includes the steps of: providing a foillike metalsheet to be shaped into a pen and forming grooves therein at those areasthereof which are intended to contain capillary passages with groovesopen at the top, filling the thus made grooves with a filling materialadapted to be evaporated, covering up at least the thus filled grooveswith another material the melting temperature of which is higher thanthe evaporation temperature of said filling material, and removing thefilling material by evaporation at a temperature lower than the meltingpoint of said foil-like metal sheet and of said covering-up material. 2.A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of using cadmiumas filling material adapted to be evaporated.
 3. A method according toclaim 1, in which said covering-up material is selected from the groupconsisting of nickel, nickel boron and nickel phosphorous.
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1, which includes the steps of finish-shaping andslotting the pen after filling and covering up the grooves intended toform the capillary passages.
 5. A method according to claim 1, whichincludes the step of producing the grooves by engraving.
 6. A methodaccording to claim 1, which includes the step of producing the groovesby embossing.
 7. A method according to claim 1, which includes the stepof producing the grooves by etching.
 8. A method according to claim 7,which includes the step of prior to etching the pen foil covering thelatter with a cover having recesses in conformity with the desiredetching pattern.
 9. A method according to claim 7, which includes thestep of prior to etching the surface to be provided with capillarygrooves depositing onto said surface a layer of a photosensitivelacquer, exposing said layer to light in conformity with the desiredetching pattern, and developing said photosensitive layer.
 10. A methodaccording to claim 1, which includes the step of using as foil ametallic band, providing one side of said band with said grooves in acontinuous process, and cutting up said band in conformity with theintended size and shape of the writing pens to be produced.